Looking for advice on pregnant ewe

[HeatherL]

I posted in the emergency section but only had 1 response.

I have a 5 yr. old large Targhee ewe who is due in about 4 weeks. She's a big girl not pregnant and looks like a house right now.

Sunday we noticed she was favoring her front feet. We have a lot of ice and figured she had pulled something or fell. Monday morning went to feed and she would stand up in the back and try to walk on her front knees. I have checked all of her feet and legs and can't find anything. I got her up and she was up all day. Went down to feed around 8 and she was on the ground and won't get up. My husband helped me get her into the barn and out of the snow but she wouldn't get up no matter what. Her temp was 102.2. She's hungry and alert this morning but still won't get up.

Does this sound like toxemia? I am confused with how it presented. A friend mentioned founder, but I just think I should treat for toxemia since that is more life threatening. I went and got Propylene Glycol and Vit. B. complex inj. I haven't started anything yet, just getting ready to. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

 

[purplequeenvt]

She is right in the window when toxemia becomes a concern. I would start treating her immediately.

 

[HeatherL]

So she still won't get up. She had about 2 oz of PropGlyc this morning and I just gave her a 4oz dose for the evening. She's extremely thirsty!?!? I hear gut sounds and she's burping after drinking. She's still eating and drinking. She is grunting sometimes when breathing out. No teeth grinding.

How long does it usually take to see a result?

 

[purplequeenvt]

It's hard to say how quickly she'll respond. It varies greatly. Have you spoken with a vet?

What does her breath smell like? Is it slightly sweet smelling or does it smell like normal cud breath? If it is sweet, that is an indication of toxemia.

It's good that she's still eating.

 

[HeatherL]

We've been treating with Prop Glyc for over 24 hours and no improvement. She was thirsty this morning but not this afternoon and isn't real interested in feed now. She's still moving stools through her system but now is making a moaning sound when she breaths out.

I have a call to the vet so hopefully he'll come out.

 

[HeatherL]

Just spoke to the vet. He said that we were doing everything he would recommend. He would also diagnose her with Ketosis. He said that they could do a C-Section but that the ewes usually don't make it at this point. He did say to stick with her longer and up her dose of Prop. Glyc.

 

[purplequeenvt]

I have found that to be true. Sometimes you can nurse the ewe along until she lambs, but that doesn't always work.

This is a quote from an article that Pipestone did..."Ewes can be maintained with propylene glycol, 4-6 oz. orally 3-4 times a day and Predef (2mL, S.Q. every other day). Appetite stimulants such as Vitamin B complex and probiotics may also be beneficial. All of this will not correct the problem but can help maintain the ewe for a few days if she is close to lambing."

You can read the whole article here....
http://www.pipevet.com/images/Pregnancy Ketosis.pdf

 

[HeatherL]

I have found that to be true. Sometimes you can nurse the ewe along until she lambs, but that doesn't always work.

This is a quote from an article that Pipestone did..."Ewes can be maintained with propylene glycol, 4-6 oz. orally 3-4 times a day and Predef (2mL, S.Q. every other day). Appetite stimulants such as Vitamin B complex and probiotics may also be beneficial. All of this will not correct the problem but can help maintain the ewe for a few days if she is close to lambing."

You can read the whole article here....
http://www.pipevet.com/images/Pregnancy Ketosis.pdf

Thank you for the article.

 

[bloonskiller911]

any news on this issue? I don't have any information for you but am very interested as I am new to sheep.

 

[HeatherL]

Update: She's been down a couple days now. I can't move her as she's about 200#. I am going to have my husband help me tomorrow with her. She is getting electrolytes mixed in her water (which I don't leave with her for fear she'll drown), about 6oz of Propylene Glycol 2x daily, yesterday she got Penicillin and Vit. B. and about 4 oz of beer (for her rumen). She is miserable and looks like she's just trying to last as long as she can. She hasn't had a appetite but last night she did manage to eat a small amount of grass hay. Still having bowel movements though they have gotten more liquidy-which I think is from drinking more water and eating less.

My girls were with the ram for about a week before he had a marking harness which would make her closer to delivery if that's when she bred, however her last marking indicates 2/11 as her due date. I am just trying everything I can.

If anyone has any other ideas I am surely open to them. I asked the vet about the Calcium Gluconate and he didn't seem to feel that would do anything.